Download Minnesota`s First Regiment did not only serve on the battlefront

Kirby Kragenbring
South Dakota History
2/23/13
Minnesota’s contribution to the Civil War and The Indian Uprising of 1862
Minnesota became a state in 1858. Minnesota immediately contributed to the
forming, shaping, and maintaining of our young country. Minnesota responded quickly
to the beginning of the Civil War and contributed greatly all the way from the first battle
of Bull Run to the surrender at Appomattox courthouse. Not only did Minnesota
contribute during the Civil War, they also contributed to the Minnesota and Dakota
uprising in 1862.
In 1849, Minnesota became a territory with five thousand people. The Rock
Island Railroad brought tourists and publicity to Minnesota helping the population
increase.1 Minnesota became a state in 1858. The outbreak of the Civil War was 1861
and the population of Minnesota consisted of fewer than two hundred thousand
“Minnesotians,” as they were called. A decade earlier the figure had only been ten
thousand”2.
During the first battle of Bull Run, Minnesota’s first infantry regiment arrived
around two o’clock a.m. Minnesota’s First Regiment was one of last regiments to leave
the battlefield. Consequently, Minnesota’s First Regiment also suffered the highest rate
1
Rhoda R. Gilman, Minnesota History: How Minnesota Became the 32nd State (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical
Society Press),16
2
Kenneth Carley, Minnesota in The Civil War (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press), X
of casualties for any northern regiment engaged in the battle. This includes 48 soldiers
killed, 83 wounded, 23 wounded, as well as 30 soldiers missing. This does not include
the numbers that were taken prisoner by the confederate army. 3
During the same time as the Civil War, Minnesota was not only contributing
soldiers to aid the union, they also had their own problems back on the home front. The
Indian uprising of 1862 was in the making shortly after the treaties between the Dakota
and United States were signed. The treaties promised the Dakota annual payments for
the land they ceded to the union. However, once the Civil War started, the payments
became late because the United States was more focused on funding the Civil War.
The weak crop production of 1862, and the fact that US traders would not trade with
them until the Dakota paid their debts pushed them over the edge. So, on August 17,
1862, four Dakota men killed five farmers. 4
Henry Sibley was appointed colonel shortly after the fighting began and given
control of Minnesota’s military response. According to the Minnesota Historical Society,
“On Aug. 20, 1862, Col. Sibley and the 6th Minnesota Infantry, a hastily-formed
regiment of local volunteers and army troops, marched from Fort Snelling towards the
town of St. Peter. After waiting several days for supplies and reinforcements, Sibley and
his forces advanced towards Fort Ridgely with approximately 1,400 soldiers, arriving on
Aug. 28.” 5
3
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
4
“U.S Dakota war 1862,” Historic Fort Snelling, http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/history/us-dakota-war
5
“Sibley and U.S – Dakota war of 1862,” Historic Fort Snelling, http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/sibley-househistoric-site/sibley-and-us-dakota-war-1862
Once he arrived at Fort Ridgel, Colonel Sibley immediately began training his
soldiers after sending out a party to find and bury dead civilians. Dakota soldiers
attacked the party he sent out, and once the news reached him, he took his remaining
men to meet and defend them. Once Colonel Sibley arrived, the majority of the Dakota
had already left the battle, so he returned to Fort Ridgely to train them further. 6
In September, Colonel Sibley attempted to negotiate with Taoyateduta, or Little
Crow, a Dakota leader, to stop the fighting, but he did not agree. Colonel Sibley
demanded that he surrender, but he refused. Feeling pressure from the government to
defeat the Dakota quickly, Colonel Sibley moved up the river. He sent out a party to
collect food, and they found a Dakota war party planning to attack Col. Sibley. Once he
found out, Colonel Sibley attacked the Dakota party the next morning in the last major
battle of the Indian uprising resulting in a crushing loss for the Dakota. General Sibley
was promoted to Major General in 1805 for his services during the Indian uprising 7
After the battle, many of the Dakota left Minnesota, and the ones who remained
surrendered. Thirty-eight of the Indians were executed because of their assault and
killing of civilians. In 1863, Colonel Sibley was promoted to General Sibley, and he and
General Sully followed the Indians that left into the western territories of the Dakotas.
General Sibley and General Sully were supposed to meet at the Missouri River. General
Sibley was supposed to move from Minnesota northwest into what is present-day
central North Dakota. General Sully was supposed to move north from Iowa and meet
6
“Sibley and U.S – Dakota war of 1862,” Historic Fort Snelling, http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/sibley-househistoric-site/sibley-and-us-dakota-war-1862
7
“Sibley and U.S – Dakota war of 1862,” Historic Fort Snelling, http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/sibley-househistoric-site/sibley-and-us-dakota-war-1862
General Sibley, but once he arrived around what is now present day Long Lake he
turned around and made his way south again. 8
There they fought three major battles on their way to the Missouri river pushing
Dakota and Lakota tribes farther west. One of the major battles fought by General Sully
was that of Whitestone Hill. There were reportedly around four hundred lodges on this
hill. In the lodges, it is estimated that there were around 3,500 Dakota people and
approximately one thousand of them were expected to be warriors. Once hearing this,
Major House sent two companies to the left to gain more information on the number of
Indians, and upon the return of these companies, he sent another to the right to gain
even more information.9
Once General Sully arrived, he took a majority of the forces with him including
the Second Nebraska on the right, the Sixth Iowa on the left, and the Seventh of Iowa
and battery in the Center and proceeded to charge the camp. Once he saw the Indians
flee, he sent his troops after them. The next day when the casualties on both sides had
finally been counted to the best of their ability and recorded they stood as follows:
United States soldiers - twenty dead and twenty-eight wounded; Native casualties between one hundred fifty and three hundred killed and wounded and 156 captured.
Sully ordered his troops to destroy everything left behind including potentially 500,000
pounds of meat, equipment, and lodges.10
At the same time as the Dakota uprising, Minnesota’s First Regiment was fighting
many small battles throughout 1862. One of the more well-known battles of 1862 was
8
See map 1
Clair Jacobson, Whitestone Hill: The Indians and the Battle (La Crosse, WI: Pine Tree Publishing 1991), 89-101.
10
Clair Jacobson, Whitestone Hill: The Indians and the Battle (La Crosse, WI: Pine Tree Publishing 1991), 89-101.
9
the battle of Antietam. Minnesota’s First Regiment had only 435 men at this time and
was on the far right side of the advancing line. Once they emerged from the woods, the
regiment was exposed to heavy fire from both flanks. They lost less than the regiments
to their left, but they still lost many people. They were the only regiment to leave the
battle in a calm military manner firing back as they left. The 1st’s color general was left
behind after being wounded in the knee. He eventually returned with the1st’s colors and
to have his leg removed. Minnesota’s First Regiment stayed at the battlefield burying
the dead.11
After the battle, one hundred of the volunteers of the Minnesota’s First Regiment
transferred to the regular Union army. Minnesota’s First Regiment fought under many
inadequate Union leaders, but they fought with valor despite it being a failed effort. The
way the first regiment performed at the Peninsula Campaign and Antietam earned their
reputation of remaining cool under pressure and as one of the best units in the army of
the Potomac. 12 It is said that, the during the battle of Antietam, Minnesotans were cool
and accurate as they shot down a Confederate flag three times and even cut the pole
that held the flag in half. 13
Minnesota’s biggest contribution to the Union Army during the Civil War came at
the battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Due to many of the troops from Minnesota’s First
Regiment had been assigned to different units they only had 262 men at the start of the
second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. General Hancock needed time to bring in
11
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
12
Kenneth Carley, Minnesota in The Civil War (St. Paul: Minnesota Historical Society Press), X
13
“1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” Wikipedia,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Minnesota_Volunteer_Infantry#First_Bull_Run
Reinforcements on Cemetery Ridge because they were already outnumbered about five
to one by the Confederacy. General Hancock, in order to gain time to get
reinforcements, ordered Minnesota’s First Regiment to charge the much larger
Confederate lines. Every man in the regiment instantly realized that this was a suicidal
mission, but they did as they were told and affixed their bayonets and began to charge
the Confederate Lines. General Hancock later wrote about the First Minnesota’s bravery
and heroism.
I had no alternative but to order the regiment in. We had no force on
hand to meet the sudden emergency. Troops had been ordered up
and were coming on the run, but I saw that in some way five minutes
must be gained or we were lost. It was fortunate that I found there so
grand a body of men as the First Minnesota. I knew they must lose
heavily and it caused me pain to give the order for them to advance,
but I would have done it (even) if I had known every man would be
killed. It was a sacrifice that must be made. The superb gallantry of
those men saved our line from being broken. No soldiers on any field,
in this or any other country, ever displayed grander heroism.
The Confederates, already tired after the mile charge, were initially thrown off
guard by the charge. They quickly regained themselves and decimated the regiment
causing 215 casualties including the wounding of Colonel Colvill. They had managed to
take the Alabama’s colors, but they did not lose their own. 14
Minnesota’s First was not done though. After the battle, they took their remaining
forty-seven men and rejoined two companies that had been detached to bring the
number of soldiers back up to 150. Minnesota’s First was ordered to help end Pickett’s
charge. During the battle, Minnesota’s First suffered forty-five more casualties, but
14
Jon Matsune, “The Charge of the First Minnesota at Gettysburg”, http://suite101.com/article/the-charge-of-thefirst-minnesota-at-gettysburg-a144156
Private Marshall Sherman managed to capture the colors of Virginia’s 28 th regiment.
Two members of Minnesota’s First, including Private Sherman, received the Medal of
Honor for their showings of heroism at the Battle of Gettysburg.15
There were many lesser battles fought after Gettysburg where Minnesota’s First
Regiment did not play the role as they had in previous battles but where they were
ordered to take the offensive. They had already lost many of their regiment in the battle
of Gettysburg, and in October 1863, they feared they would lose even more. At the
battle of Bristoe station, Minnesota’s First Regiment was ordered to be skirmishers and
lead the attack on Confederate soldiers. Thankfully, for the First Minnesota, the order
was called off. 16
Minnesota’s First Regiment was the first to open fire in the Battle of Bristoe
Station. The regiment at the time was part of K. Warren’s Second Corps and fired upon
Confederates led by General A.P.Hill who was pursuing the Union army. He sent forth
forces led by Henry Heth who decided to charge the Second Corps who was hid behind
a railroad embankment. They had success and broke through the Union lines, but the
massive Union army was too much for them to enjoy the brief victory. The charge
eventually breaks down, and with the help from Minnesota’s First Regiment, the
confederates retreated and the Second Corps continued their march. 17
15
Jon Matsune, “The Charge of the First Minnesota at Gettysburg”, http://suite101.com/article/the-charge-of-thefirst-minnesota-at-gettysburg-a144156
16
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
17
“Kati Singel,” Battle of Bristoe Station, in Encyclopedia Virginia,
http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Bristoe_Station_Battle_of
Minnesota’s First Regiment did not only serve on the battlefront versus the
Confederacy, but between August and September of 1863, the regiment was
transported to New York. Upon arrival in New York City, they were ordered to maintain
peace during the draft riots, camped near Sommerville Ford, and took part in the state
elections held there. 18
During the winter from December to February, Minnesota’s First regiment was
camped at Culpepper Courthouse in Virginia. In February of 1864, the bravery and
sacrifice of Minnesota’s First Regiment was honored at a banquet at the National hotel
in Washington, DC. Vice President, Hamlin and Secretary of War Stanton both attended
the banquet honoring Minnesota’s First regiment. The next day, they boarded a train
back to Minnesota. 19
Minnesota’s First Regiment returned home in February of 1864 cold and hungry.
They had displayed incredible bravery and skill in many battles that they were a part of.
In the battle of Bull Run, when they were one of the last regiments to leave the
battlefield, they suffered some of the highest casualties of the battle. Likewise, during
the battle of Antietam when they were exposed to heavy fire on both sides, they were
one of the only regiments to leave the battle in a military fashion and fire back displaying
their accuracy and coolness under pressure shooting down a confederate flag three
times. They displayed tremendous bravery under incredible circumstances that they
18
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
19
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
knew would lead to their demise at the battle of Gettysburg just to give the Union army a
little bit of time, which consequently helped them to win the battle.
Not only was Minnesota’s First Contributing the union efforts in the eastern
campaign, General Sully was busy fighting on the western front against the Dakota
Indians. General Sibley was able to drive the hostile Indians out of Minnesota after an
attack on Minnesota farmers. General Sibley continued to chase them through the
Dakota territory with the help of General Sully culminating at the battle of Whitestone
hill, which is considered end of the Indian uprising.
Minnesota’s First Regiment was around twelve hundred enlisted men; one
hundred twenty five of them lost their lives on the battlefield. Fewer than thirty of these
deaths were by accident or disease. Almost half of the twelve hundred soldiers who
served were wounded in battle, and less than twenty were reported as deserters.
Despite being small, the regiment managed to capture two flags and over eight hundred
Confederate soldiers showing their calm and excellent marksmanship. Once they
returned home, only fifty-eight men re-enlisted after the final parade at Fort Snelling.
These fifty-eight men, along with seventy other men who enlisted later, and eighty-nine
more recruits became First Battalion of Minnesota Volunteers and fought in the
remaining battles in the east. Out of 2,047 regiments, they were ranked 23rd in number
of lives lost in battle. All things aside, despite being small and from a brand new state
that suffered the loss of many soldiers not only on the eastern front but also back on the
western front, they never lost a color or lost their cool in the face of adversity. 20
20
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
Minnesota had only been a state for around seven years by the time that the Civil
war ended. During this period, Minnesota contributed soldiers to two major wars in their
short time as a state. There was no hesitation from the people or leaders of Minnesota
as they knew what needed to be done on both fronts to keep their young state safe and
the country whole. The amount of lives lost by the young state ranked amongst the
highest out of all states in proportion to the number of soldiers they provided to the
Union war effort and, more specifically, the Army of the Potomac. The young men who
lost their lives will forever be remembered on both fronts for their sacrifice for something
greater than themselves. As General Hancock stated at the Battle of Gettysburg, “The
superb gallantry of those men saved our line from being broken. No soldiers on any
field, in this or any other country, ever displayed grander heroism.”21
21
“A Short History of the First Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,” The Minnesota First,
http://www.firstminnesota.org/history/first.html
Map 1:
Bibliography
1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. n.d.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Minnesota_Volunteer_Infantry#First_Bull_Run (accessed
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Carley, Kenneth. Minnesota in The Civil War. St. Paul : Minnesota Historical Society Press, 2000.
Gilman, Rhonda R. "How Minnesota Became the 32nd State." In Minnesota History, 156-171. St. Paul:
Minnesota Historical Society Press, n.d.
In Whitestone Hill: The Indians and the Battle, by Clair Jacobson, 89-101. La Crosse: Pine Tree Publishing,
1991.
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http://suite101.com/article/the-charge-of-the-first-minnesota-at-gettysburg-a144156 (accessed
March 20, 2013).
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February 26, 2013).
Minnesota Historical Society. n.d. http://www.historicfortsnelling.org/sibley-house-historic-site/sibleyand-us-dakota-war-1862 (accessed February 26, 2013).
Singel, Kati. Battle of Bristoe Station. September 19, 2012.
http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Bristoe_Station_Battle_of (accessed April 10, 2013).
The History and Culture of the Standing Rock Oyate. n.d.
http://www.ndstudies.org/resources/IndianStudies/standingrock/whitestone.html (accessed
March 20, 2013).
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